Written Answers Thursday 14 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote and encourage the maintenance and expansion of Scotland’s international air connections.

Stewart Stevenson: Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland’s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland’s profile within the airline sector, including at global events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision of market intelligence and data to airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new direct international air services. In implementing our strategy we work closely with Scotland’s airport operators.

Civil Service

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of civil service jobs is located in each city, also expressed as a percentage of the city’s population.

John Swinney: We only hold information for the core Scottish Government and the agencies and other organisations staffed by civil servants for which we provide an HR Service.

  For these organisations the percentage of jobs located in each city, also expressed as a percentage of that city’s population, is detailed in the following table.

  

 City
 Population1
 Number of SG Core, Agency and Public Body Jobs2 Located in City
 Percentage of SG Core, Agency and Public Body Jobs Located in City
 SG Core, Agency and Public Body Jobs Expressed as Percentage of City Population


 Glasgow
 577,980
 1,603 
 19.62%
 0.28%


 Edinburgh
 446,110
 4,736
 57.98%
 1.06%


 Aberdeen
 179,950
 289 
 3.53%
 0.16%


 Dundee
 141,930
 96 
 1.17%
 0.07%


 Inverness
 42,400
 126 
 1.54%
 0.30%


 Stirling
 33,060
 8 
 0.09%
 0.02%



  Notes:

  1. GROS 2006 locality estimates from the government website www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/population/index.html. Updated figures will not be available until late 2009.

  2. We do not hold information for Registers of Scotland, Scottish Prisons Service, Historic Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. We also do not hold information for other civil service departments. The member should contact these agencies and departments directly to obtain the required information.

  The organisations we hold information for are:

  Accountant in Bankruptcy

  Advocate General for Scotland

  Courts Tribunals

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

  Crofters Commission

  Deer Commission

  General Register Office Scotland

  HMI Constabulary

  HMI Prisons

  HMIe

  Local Government Boundary Commission

  Mental Health Tribunal Scotland

  Mental Welfare Commission

  National Archives of Scotland

  Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator

  Parole Board for Scotland

  Scottish Housing Regulator

  Scottish Law Commission

  Scottish Road Works Commission

  Scotland Office

  Scottish Public Pensions Agency

  Social Work Inspection Agency

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  Supported Needs Tribunals

  Transport Scotland.

Civil Service

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in seeking suggestions of potential candidates for the relocation of civil service jobs under the Small Units Initiative.

John Swinney: Ministers remain committed to the Small Units Initiative. We will keep under on-going review opportunities within the core Scottish Government and related bodies for the relocation of specific small units where it can be demonstrated that the benefits are commensurate with the costs involved.

Communities

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much from the CashBack for Communities scheme has been spent on communities in the east end of Glasgow in each year since 2005.

Fergus Ewing: The CashBack for Communities initiative was launched in June 2007 and distribution of funding began in 2008. Since then, over £12 million has been invested in diversionary and participatory projects for young people. This includes support for a wide range of activities in the east end of Glasgow.

  £3 million of this funding was administered by YouthLink Scotland. Of the £680,000 allocated to Glasgow, £266,438 went to projects based in the east end of Glasgow, including:

  Round 1

  

 Junction 12
£5,776.00


 Reidvale Adventure Play Association
£4,812.00


 Dalmarnock Youth Project
£34,939.00


 Cranhill Arts Project
£4,730.00


 The Pavillion
£12,300.00


 The Sound Lab
£11,827.00



  Round 2

  

 The Dalmarnock Centre
£27,551.00


 Dennistoun Community Youth Project
£13,021.00


 Fairbridge in Glasgow - East Glasgow Project
£9,021.00


 Greater Easterhouse Arts Company
£23,577.00


 Parkhead Youth Project
£17,021.00


 Gallowgate & Calton Children’s Project PEEK Ltd/ Inner East End (Glasgow) YouthBank
£5,021.00


 Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre Youth ‘n’ Action Project
£11,021.00


 Helenslea Hall Management Committee (Urban Fox Programme)
£18,711.00


 Scottish Marriage Care
£17,500.00


 Global Glasgow Youth Project
£18,589.00


 YMCA Glasgow Craigbank Youth & Family Centre
£31,021.00



  The Scottish Football Association has delivered 42 weekly Midnight League sessions in Whitehill Secondary to 110 individuals from the east end area, at a total cost of approximately £2,500. The total investment in the Soccer One programme was £3,525, which delivered activities in Carntyne Academy, St Mungo’s Academy and Lochend Community High School, resulting in the creation of six new teams in the east end of Glasgow. The total amount of CashBack funding invested in football activities in the east end of Glasgow from its commencement in 2008 to date is therefore £6,025.

  Scottish Sports Futures has invested £30,000 in the east end of Glasgow to cover the appointment of two members of staff for Jump2It and Twilight Basketball. Twilight Basketball is delivered in the Wellhouse and Tollcross areas with 45 young people involved every week and Jump2It basketball sessions have been delivered to 693 primary school participants.

  Basketballscotland is working to promote basketball participation across Scotland through the deployment of four regional co-ordinators funded by CashBack, including one in West Scotland. They are working with Scottish Sports Futures and Culture and Sport Glasgow to establish a community basketball club in the east end of Glasgow.

  Scottish Rugby has been allocated £1.4 million over three financial years from 2008-09 to 2010-11. This is broken down to £435,600 for 2008-09, £465,800 for 2009-10 and £513,600 for 2010-11. Approximately £4,500 has been spent in the east end of Glasgow to date. Scottish Rugby has been working in partnership with Culture & Sport Glasgow to support a community coach in delivering schools and community rugby activities. Activities have been delivered in 16 primary schools, including two rugby festivals for over 200 children, and in five secondary schools, including work with Princes Trust in XL clubs.

  The funding has also enabled delivery of four weeks of Street Rugby in South Carntyne and a six-week block in Garthamlock. In addition, Scottish Rugby have set up an after school club at Easterhouse Sports Centre on Friday evenings and a volunteer coach from the area has undertaken a placement with rugby development staff. They are now looking to recruit a full time Development Officer for the east end area to continue and expand these activities.

  The second culture strand of CashBack was announced in March 2009. The Creative Identities project is an 18-month programme of creative learning activities for young people targeting young carers in particular, but will be open to all young people. The east end of Glasgow is included in the West Central Programme Plan, which will be led by Glasgow-based partners Tramway and Glasgow Film Theatre. They have been allocated a total of £343,600 to deliver projects across the region.

Constitutional Renewal Bill

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers or officials have had with the UK Government regarding the implications for Scotland of the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill.

John Swinney: Officials have been in regular contact with counterparts in the UK Government about the content of the Constitutional Renewal Bill and ministers have exchanged correspondence in relation to a range of issues.

Crown Estate

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to apply the elements of the Callander report on the operation of the Crown Estate Commission that are relevant to the Scottish Government.

Roseanna Cunningham: I acknowledge the Callander report as a useful and learned examination of the constitutional position of the Crown Estate. As the Member is aware we are carrying forward the "National Conversation" on Scotland’s constitutional position. Until this wider debate concludes, I am happy to support increased accountability by the Crown Estate to the Scottish Parliament.

Digital Technology

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in Tayside will not be broadband-enabled by June 2009.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in Tayside have been broadband-enabled since May 2007.

Jim Mather: The former Scottish Executive delivered access to broadband provision to every Scottish community, as defined using census output areas, in December 2005. This was achieved through its £16.5 million Broadband for Scotland project, in which BT, under contract to the Scottish Executive, upgraded 378 rural telephone exchanges for broadband provision.

  The Scottish Government’s current Broadband Reach Project, which is being delivered by Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd, is providing a basic, affordable broadband service to the known demand from those households and businesses which still remained without broadband access following the Scottish Executive’s 2005 project, mainly due to distance from the exchange. Deployment of the current project commenced in July 2008 and will complete in May 2009. Locations within Tayside where at least one of the premises has been enabled for broadband under the current project are as follows:

  Aberfeldy

  Abernyte

  Acharn

  Alyth

  Ardargie

  Ardoch

  Ardtalnaig

  Auchterarder

  Balintore

  Blairgowrie

  Brechin

  Burnside of Kilry

  Craichie

  Craigdallie

  Delnamer

  Dykends

  Enochdhu

  Fasnacloich

  Forfar

  Forgandenny

  Glenesk

  Glen Fincastle

  Glen Prosen

  Glenalmond

  Kingoldrum

  Kirkmichael

  Kirriemuir

  Lawers

  Montrose

  Mosston

  Abernythe

  Path of Condie

  Perth

  Pitlochry

  Rannoch

  Rhynd

  Ruthvenfield

  St Cyrus

  Strathtummel.

Domestic Abuse

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when and from whom it commissioned research on male victims of domestic violence.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of research commissioned by it on male victims of domestic violence will be published.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government commissioned research on domestic abuse against men in 2002. This research was carried out by David Gadd, Stephen Farrall, Damian Dallimore & Nancy Lombard, Dept of Criminology at Keele University and published in September 2002. The full copy of the research can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/09/15201/9609 .

  However, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, currently being carried out, will provide more up to date information on the nature and extent of domestic abuse and sexual violence in Scotland, including information on domestic abuse against men. This is expected to report in the autumn.

Domestic Abuse

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is in place for support services for male victims of domestic violence.

Alex Neil: There have been no specialist male services tackling domestic abuse established in Scotland to date.

  However, over £4 million was allocated to Victim Support Scotland (VSS) for 2008-09 (an increase of 2% from 2007-08). VSS provides practical and emotional support to all victims of crime, including men who experience domestic abuse. It is the largest voluntary organisation addressing the needs of victims in Scotland.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the comment of the director of the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at the University of Glasgow, as reported in The Scotsman on 27 April 2009, that mandatory drug testing for everybody arrested by the police is "one of the best ways of finding out what kind of drugs people are taking in the wider population".

Fergus Ewing: The police, together with their local partners, are best placed to identify local trends in drug use. Among other things, this can help ensure localised targeting of drug misuse campaigns.

  It should be noted that information obtained through the pilot study of drug testing of arrestees in Fife and Strathclyde cannot be assumed to be representative of all arrestees in those areas, since only those interviewees who voluntarily consented received urine tests.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died in police custody in each year since 1999 and, of that number, how many deaths have been as a consequence of drug-taking.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of deaths in police custody since 1999 are as follows:

  

 Year
 Number of Deaths


 1999
 7


 2000
 5


 2001
 6


 2002
 8


 2003
 5


 2004
 6


 2005
 9


 2006
 9


 2007
 4


 2008
 9


 2009
 1 (as at 1 May 2009)


 Total
 69



  Information on how many of these deaths were as a consequence of drug-taking is not held centrally.

Education

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary exclusions from schools there were in the Lothians region in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many were as a result of (i) drug taking, (ii) selling drugs, (iii) violence towards other pupils, (iv) violence towards teachers, (v) vandalism of school property, (vi) theft of school property, (vii) possession of a weapon and (viii) other reasons, broken down by local authority.

Keith Brown: The number of exclusions by reason for exclusion, broken down by local authority, are published each year on the government website and can be found using the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/ExclusionHistoricalDat.

  The information on reasons for exclusion in the case of removals from register, for the Lothian area, has been has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48108).

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20532 by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009, whether there is a representative from the leisure marine industry on the Scottish Enterprise newly formed advisory group informing the strategy for aerospace, defence and the marine industry.

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise primarily looks at the aerospace, defence and marine industry sector with an engineering, manufacturing and technology focus. Marine representation on the Industry Advisory Group is from shipbuilding/ship repair companies and from the commercial ship management sector. There is no direct representation on the Industry Advisory Group covering the leisure marine industry.

Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of the report by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Consequences in Norway of a hypothetical accident in Sellafield, and whether it intends to commission a similar study.

Shona Robison: While nuclear safety is reserved and a matter for the Health and Safety Executive, consequence management for issues arising from any off site releases is devolved.

  We understand the Health and Safety Executive has discussed the issue with the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. Given the consequence management responsibility of the Scottish Government, I have asked that officials take account of the content of this report.

Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed by the Health and Safety Executive about a loss of cooling incident at the high level radioactive liquid storage tanks at the Sellafield nuclear power plant on 1 April 2009, given the proximity of the plant.

Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials are notified of any formally reportable events at all Scottish civil nuclear sites and also for incidents at Sellafield. Scottish Government officials were notified of this particular event on 2 April 2009.

Exports

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value is of exports to each European country in the last year for which information is available, also expressed as a percentage of total exports.

Jim Mather: Table 1: Estimated Total of Overseas Scottish Exports, 2007

  

 
Estimated Value of Scottish Exports (£ Million)
Estimated Percentage


 All countries 
 20,665
 100.0%



  Table 2: Estimated Scottish Exports to EU Countries within the Top 20, 2007

  

 
Estimated Value of Scottish Exports (£ Million)
Estimated Percentage


 France
 1,475
 7.1%


 Netherlands
 1,420
 6.9%


 Germany
 1,335
 6.5%


 Eire
 1,040
 5.0%


 Spain
 895
 4.3%


 Italy
 685
 3.3%


 Belgium
 510
 2.5%


 Denmark
 425
 2.1%


 Sweden
 405
 2.0%



  Table 3: Estimated Scottish Exports to Remaining EU Countries, 2007

  

 
Estimated Value of Scottish Exports (£ Million)
Estimated Percentage


 Greece
 230
 1.1%


 Portugal
 180
 0.9%


 Finland
 140
 0.7%


 Poland
 115
 0.6%


 Austria
 60
 0.3%


 Czech Republic
 60
 0.3%


 Cyprus
 55
 0.3%


 Hungary
 50
 0.2%


 Estonia
 50
 0.2%


 Malta
 45
 0.2%


 Romania
 30
 0.1%


 Luxembourg
 25
 0.1%


 Latvia
 20
 0.1%


 Bulgaria
 15
 0.1%


 Slovak Republic
 15
 0.1%


 Slovenia
 5
 0.0%


 Lithuania
 5
 0.0%


 Slovakia
 0
 0.0%



  Source: Scotland’s Global Connections 2007.

  Note: All value estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

Ferry Services

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the implications that the UK Government’s e-Borders programme will have on Scottish waterways, in particular on domestic ferry journeys to Scottish islands.

Stewart Stevenson: The UK Government’s e-Borders programme relates to travellers entering and leaving the UK. The programme does not include domestic travel, so there are no implications for ferry journeys between the Scottish mainland and Scottish islands.

Fuel Poverty

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Ofgem in relation to Scotland’s Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: Ofgem officials are observers on the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, and attended the meetings at which the Forum developed its recommendations for the Energy Assistance Package. Ofgem also participates in the Scottish CERT Strategy Steering Group and officials were present at meetings where the Energy Assistance Package was discussed, and attended a workshop on 13 January to discuss how Stage 3 of the Energy Assistance Package would be delivered.

Health

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to address men’s health issues.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is providing a range of health and supporting services which are particularly sensitive to men’s health needs.

  An example is the Keep Well anticipatory care programme, which is targeted at 45 to 64-year-olds in the 15% most deprived communities in Scotland. The programme aims to engage individuals who do not take full advantage of the health care services available to them, many of whom are men. Patients who attend a Keep Well health check are assessed for their risk of current and future ill health. Those found to be at risk are prescribed medication or referred to supporting services including weight management, smoking cessation and brief alcohol interventions.

  Another example is the Scottish Government’s recent alcohol framework which recognises that up to 50% of men are drinking over the sensible drinking guidelines, increasing their risk of lasting health damage. The framework sets out a robust and proportionate package of measures to re-balance Scotland’s relationship with alcohol.

Health

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which community health partnerships have a combined falls prevention and bone health strategy in place.

Shona Robison: The following table represents the current position on falls prevention and bone health strategies for all community health partnership areas.

  

 Health Boards
 Position as at 11 May 2009


 Ayrshire and Arran (3)
 Yes. For all 3 CHPs


 Borders (1)
 Yes 


 Dumfries and Galloway (1)
 Yes 


 Fife (3)
 Yes. For all 3 CHPs


 Forth Valley (3)
 No. However the strategy is expected to be ratified by the Adult Strategic Planning Group on 21 May 2009 and then rolled out to the 3 CHPs.


 Grampian (3)
 No. There is an agreed strategy which will be rolled out to the 3 CHPs when a Falls lead official is appointed.


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde (10)
 Yes. For all 10 CHPs


 Highland (4)
 No. There is an agreed strategy which is under review due to recent guidance received from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.


 Lanarkshire (2)
 No. Strategy has been developed. Working to develop the implementation plan and identify funding.


 Lothian (4)
 No. Currently developing a strategy


 Orkney (1)
 No. Currently developing a strategy


 Shetland (1)
 No. Currently developing a strategy


 Tayside (3)
 No. Currently developing a strategy


 Western Isles (1)
 No.



  Note: ( ) The figures denotes the number of community health partnerships in each Health Board area.

Health

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the electronic health record has been defined and, if not, when it will be.

Nicola Sturgeon: The eHealth Strategy takes an incremental approach to improving IT support for clinicians in delivering safe and effective healthcare. Movement toward an electronic health record is also intended to be incremental and based on what has already been achieved within NHS Scotland. It will progressively draw together information prioritised according to clinicians views about those pieces of information which would add the most value to patient care and in step with agreements about how such information should be brought together.

  The Clinical Change Leadership Group (CCLG) is considering these design issues along with IT technical teams and are currently consulting their clinical colleagues to establish these priorities. The advice from CCLG will be used to inform a clinical portal programme, which will give health boards the capability to deliver a virtual Electronic Patient Record by assembling the agreed information elements of the electronic patient record and displaying it in the clinical portal. It is expected that a clinical portal technology pilot will be completed in one health board during 2009 and for other health boards to be able to introduce a clinical portal in 2010.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Funding Council will save from the 2.5% reduction in the standard rate of VAT and where savings will be spent.

Fiona Hyslop: The impact of the reduction in the standard rate of VAT for the Scottish Funding Council is an operational matter for that body. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to write to the member with this information.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much universities have saved from the 2.5% reduction in the standard rate of VAT, broken down by institution.

Fiona Hyslop: The impact of the reduction in the standard rate of VAT for universities is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to write to the member with this information.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much colleges have saved from the 2.5% reduction in the standard rate of VAT, broken down by institution.

Fiona Hyslop: The impact of the reduction in the standard rate of VAT for colleges is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to write to the member with this information.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a graduate talent pool, similar to the scheme run by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund and direct the Scottish Funding Council to support graduate opportunities in a similar way to the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Economic Challenge Investment Fund.

Fiona Hyslop: We have no plans to set up a "graduate talent pool", similar to the proposed idea from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in England. Full details of that scheme are yet to be published. Working with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services Scotland, we are monitoring closely the situation on graduate employment.

Influenza

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what cross-border co-operation there has been between NHS Scotland and its English counterpart in combating the flu outbreak.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS in Scotland and in the rest of the UK have worked closely together on flu pandemic planning. From the outset of the emergence of the Influenza A H1N1 strain, Health Protection Scotland has proactively linked with the Health Protection Agency in England to jointly develop and agree guidance to the service and agree case management strategies which have subsequently been shared with NHS boards in Scotland.

  An enhanced surveillance system and information exchange is in place and Scotland also receives considerable support from the UK reference laboratory in Colindale. Contact takes place daily across the UK to highlight issues and raise matters of concern which require a co-ordinated response.

Land

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when guidance will be issued on the Disposal of Land by Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

John Swinney: New draft regulations on the disposal of land by local authorities are currently under discussion with representatives of local government. Once the regulations are finalised, they will be laid before Parliament. Guidance would follow subject to the regulations being approved by Parliament.

Local Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration ministers have given to the conclusions of The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning - Dumfries and Galloway Council report , published by Audit Scotland in March 2009.

John Swinney: I wrote to the leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council on 1 April 2009 setting out my comments, and to urge that the council take the necessary remedial action to address the shortcomings highlighted in their Best Value report.

Marine Environment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20532 by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009, when the Scottish Enterprise strategy for aerospace, defence and the marine industry will be published.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Enterprise strategy for the aerospace, defence and marine industry is in the process of being developed in consultation with the Industry Advisory Group. A publication date has not been set yet, as this will be dependent on progress in the development work and the considerations of the Industry Advisory Group.

Marine Environment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20532 by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009, who is a member of the newly formed advisory group informing the strategy for aerospace, defence and marine industry.

Jim Mather: The current members of the Scottish Enterprise aerospace, defence and marine Industry Advisory Group are:

  

 Name
 Title and Organisation


 Tom O’Neill (Chair)
 independent


 Norman Bone
 Senior Vice President, Radar and Advanced Targeting, SELEX Galileo


 Angus Holt
 Type 45 Programme Director, BVT Surface Fleet


 Neil McManus
 Managing Director, Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Ltd


 Fred Gorrie
 Managing Director, Inter-Tec Services


 Alan Fraser
 Managing Director, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft


 David Lockwood 
 Managing Director, Thales Optronics


 George Adams
 Operations Executive, Rolls-Royce


 Jim Trail
 Chief Operating Officer, Raytheon Systems Ltd


 Bob Bishop 
 Chief Executive Officer, V.Ships Shipmanagement


 Craig Lockhart
 Managing Director (Clyde), Babcock Marine


 Professor Jim McDonald
 Principal, University of Strathclyde


 Steve Callan
 Managing Director Europe, Goodrich


 Stephen Boyd
 Assistant Secretary, STUC


 Katie Hutton
 Head of Operations, Skills Development Scotland


 Ian Watson
 Chief Executive, SBAC Scotland


 Ian McMahon
 Head of Aerospace, Defence & Marine, Scottish Enterprise


 Elisabeth Stark (Observer)
 Head of Manufacturing Policy, Scottish Government

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to change the travel arrangements of ministers and officials to and from official engagements to take account of the effect on climate change.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing business travel related emissions by 20% between 2005-06 and 2010-11 and by 40% by 2019-20 against 2005-06 levels.

  We would hope to communicate this by, for example:

  Promoting video and tele – conferencing;

  Promoting travel by rail and bus on longer distance journeys;

  Encourage walking, taxi sharing, cycling and bus travel over short to medium distance journeys, and

  Encourage the use of low emission pool cars for medium distance trips where there is no practical alternative.

NHS Hospitals

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations in the 2005 Audit Scotland report, A Scottish prescription - Managing the use of medicines in hospitals , have been implemented and when it expects that all the recommendations will be in place.

Nicola Sturgeon: The recommendations in the 2005 report A Scottish Prescription: Managing the use of medicines in hospitals have, wherever possible, been introduced into routine practice, are under active consideration or are part of on-going work within a larger programme of work at Scotland or UK level. Of those recommendations identified by Audit Scotland as key, the following have been implemented.

  Develop a national drug dictionary.

  Roll out of the Emergency Care Summary for use by accident and emergency hospital staff dealing with emergency patients.

  The Scottish Medicines Consortium should continue to develop its work on estimating the budget impact of new medicines so that NHS boards are provided with information on all anticipated costs and savings to allow them to estimate the local financial impact of new medicines.

  NHS boards should ensure that the horizon scanning information and monitoring information on the use of medicines is used to inform budgets for medicines.

  NHS boards should ensure that pharmacy is represented at the senior levels of decision-making in the NHS boards and operating divisions.

  NHS boards should develop joint formularies and treatment protocols that promote cost-effective prescribing and monitor their use.

  NHS boards should develop antibiotic strategies and put in place mechanisms to support these strategies, including education, clinical audit and feedback to staff.

  In addition to the above, there are developments at UK level which address key recommendations in relation to the pharmacy workforce. Importantly, the Healthcare and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 extends the statutory regulation of pharmacy technicians to Scotland. Once pharmacy technicians are registered and trained they will be able to undertake extended roles thus releasing capacity elsewhere. At this time, the Scottish Government is also scoping the potential for a new role of the assistant pharmacist practitioner. These, together with the Action Plan for Pharmacy and Medicines, which is currently being developed, will allow key recommendations relating to the pharmacy workforce, including the use of automation, to be fully addressed.

  The key recommendation relating to the review of education in medicines and prescribing for medical students is being taken forward on a UK basis through the General Medical Council’s review of Tomorrow’s Doctors, which includes representation from the Scottish Government.

  Recommendations relating to the development and implementation of a national hospital, electronic prescribing and medicines administration system will be an option as part of a Patient Management System. Procurement of such a system is underway and award of contract stage is expected by autumn 2009. Other national information systems, the use of the Community Health Index number in the hospital sector and the national Hospital Medicines Utilisation database, are expected to be completed by end 2009 and 2010 respectively.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) is currently examining how their clinical guidelines and technology appraisal processes can include cost implications to inform the NHS budget planning. NHS QIS is also examining the feasibility of developing a national incident reporting approach so that any safety learned can be shared throughout the NHS.

NHS Staff

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many physiotherapists were employed by NHS Tayside in each of the last three years for which information is available, expressed both as whole-time equivalent and in head count figures, also broken down by (a) junior and (b) senior grades.

Nicola Sturgeon: Taken from nationally published data, the following tables provide the details of the number of physiotherapists employed in NHS Tayside as at 30 September in each of the last three years. Due to the assimilation of the workforce onto Agenda for Change bandings it is not possible to provide band groupings before September 2007.

  NHS Tayside - Physiotherapists

  

 2006
 Head Count
 Whole-Time Equivalent


 Unqualified
 3
 2.1


 Qualified
 191
 152.5


 Total
 194
 154.6



  

 2007
 Head Count
 Whole-Time Equivalent


 Band 1-4
 33
 24


 Band 5-9
 161
 130.2


 Not assimilated
 34
 26.3


 Total
 228
 180.5



  

 2008
 Head Count
 Whole-Time Equivalent


 Band 1-4
 38
 26.5


 Band 5-9
 197
 157.7


 Not assimilated
 3
 2.8


 Total
 238
 187.0



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland of NHS National Services Scotland.

NHS Staff

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many physiotherapists employed by NHS Tayside are 55 or over and what percentage of physiotherapists employed by NHS Tayside this represents.

Nicola Sturgeon: Taken from nationally published data, the following table provides the number of physiotherapists employed by NHS Tayside as at 30 September 2008 that are 55 or over and the percentage of physiotherapists employed by NHS Tayside this represents.

  

 Total
 Aged 55+
 % Aged 55+


 238.0
 18.0
 7.6%



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

NHS Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to achieve national standards for training technicians in extended roles in the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are currently working on a Higher National Certificate in Rehabilitation Technologies for health care technicians covering surgical appliances, wheelchair services, orthontics and prosthetics. This course will be validated by Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and be available in 2010.

  In addition, NES is progressing the development of a National Educational Framework for Pharmacy Support Staff, jointly funded by the Scottish Government. This involves the implementation of training for community and hospital registered pharmacy technicians across Scotland. NES will also support educational development work around the role of Pharmacist Assistant within Scotland.

  With other parties, NES have also been involved in developing national occupational standards for pharmacy technicians and support staff and reviewing the current SVQ Pharmacy Service level 2 & 3 qualifications.

Parkinson's Disease

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist nurses dealing with Parkinson’s disease there have been in each NHS board area in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: Numbers are as shown in the following table:

  Nurses Specialising in Parkinson’s Disease

  

 
 2006
 2006
 2007
 2007
 2008
 2008


Head Count
Whole-Time Equivalent
Head Count
 Whole-Time Equivalent
 Head Count
Whole-Time Equivalent


 Scotland
 12
 10.5
 14
 12.1
 13
 11.9


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1


 NHS Borders
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Fife 
 2
 1.6
 1.6
 1.6
 2
 1.6


 NHS Forth Valley 
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1


 NHS Grampian
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 6
 4.9
 5.5
 5.5
 5
 4.3


 NHS Highland
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1


 NHS Lanarkshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Lothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Orkney
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Shetland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Tayside
 1
 1
 2
 2
 2
 2


 NHS Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -



  Source: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS).

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it has in place in each directorate to ensure that parliamentary questions are answered within the time limit.

Bruce Crawford: The government has a corporate management system in place which sets out the necessary deadlines to answer parliamentary questions within the time limits.

Pharmacies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to extend NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration system to other NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has commissioned a consortium of NHS boards to procure a Patient Management System which includes a hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration system as an option. This procurement is due to get to award of contract stage by autumn 2009, at which point NHS boards will have the opportunity to consider the business case for implementing the selected electronic prescribing system.

Pharmacies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that NHS boards review the way in which hospitals provide pharmacy services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is developing an Action Plan for Pharmacy and Medicines which will set out an agenda for further modernising pharmacy services. The Action Plan will take as its themes the dimensions of quality in Better Health, Better Care and will support the NHS boards to make best use of the skills and knowledge of the pharmacy workforce.

Pharmacies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to develop workforce planning in pharmacy services in the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: The development of workforce planning for pharmacy, which will include national supply and demand modelling to inform future manpower planning, is being taken forward as part of on-going work in the Action Plan for Pharmacy and Medicines.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it took into account in identifying invitees to the planning reform progress and e-planning launch event on 29 April 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: When compiling the invitation list the capacity of the venue, the numbers required for the e-planning launch and the attendee list of the Planning Summit in October 2008 were taken into account. Since it was not possible to have an open invitation we sought to achieve a balance of e-planning representatives, local and national park authorities, agencies, developers, banks, private sector interests, professional organisations, community representatives, and other interest groups involved in planning.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the planning reform progress and e-planning launch event on 29 April 2009 contributed to the inclusive and sustainable aims of the modernised planning system as set out in the 2005 white paper, Modernising the Planning System .

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the planning system by: strengthening the involvement of communities; speeding up decisions; reflecting local views better, and allowing quicker investment decisions. ePlanning is an integral part of this modernisation and culture change and the event on 29 April provided an opportunity to allow key stakeholders to reflect on the progress being made on planning reform and to promote the e-planning launch.

  The ePlanning programme contributes to planning modernisation by:

  Reducing bureaucracy via the ePlanning Scotland website which will clearly explain the planning process and guide applicants swiftly through the submission of their application.

  Increasing consistency across Scotland by providing a standard set of planning application forms and advice for Scotland on the ePlanning Scotland website.

  Being more open and transparent, providing more information with an easily accessible 24x7 service for citizens, agents, consultees and businesses. Users will be able to view plans of proposed developments, understand where applications are in the process and provide comments online.

  Being more inclusive allowing more individuals, communities and businesses to engage in the development of their neighbourhoods through increased online interaction in the creation of local plans and processing of applications.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the interests of local communities and other third parties involved in the planning system were represented at the planning reform progress and e-planning launch event on 29 April 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: The Association of Scottish Community Councils and Planning Aid Scotland were invited to represent the interests of local communities. Planning Aid Scotland are a charity who provide training and support and encourage engagement in the planning process.

  In addition to local and national park authorities, agencies and developers, invites were sent to professional organisations, planning schools, banks, and other interest groups.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the e-planning programme has been and what the estimated final cost is.

Stewart Stevenson: The programme provides an opportunity to release £16.7 million in savings for an initial investment of £11.2 million. It will also deliver considerable value to citizens and businesses by creating a higher quality, faster, more consistent, more inclusive and easier to use planning system. These end user benefits of £43.8 million bring the total savings to £60.5 million over a ten year period.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of the e-planning system will be for third parties to the planning process, including neighbours, local communities and NGOs.

Stewart Stevenson: ePlanning will deliver a step change in planning service delivery, providing a wide range of online services to end users that creates an end-to-end ePlanning service; from initial inquiries, to applications, decisions, and where applicable, through the planning appeal process. The service will be inclusive and transparent with all applications, plans and progress updates viewable across the internet.

  The amount and quality of planning information available online is being increased on planning authority websites making the planning process more transparent and accessible. ePlanning allows the progress of applications and appeals to be tracked, comments to be made and decisions better understood. For communities this means greater confidence and certainty.

  During the year ahead local development plans, which are at the heart of Scotland’s planning system, will be published online. Individuals and communities will be able to engage more effectively in the process of preparing plans and better understand the future development of their local area.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial and other assistance it has provided or plans to provide to assist third parties, including neighbours, local communities and NGOs, to access e-planning services.

Stewart Stevenson: The ePlanning Programme is delivering a step change in planning service delivery and driving forward efficiencies in the planning system, moving planning away from a paper process to electronic ways of working. The programme allows for decisions to be made more quickly and more open, thereby increasing efficiencies in the public sector and, providing savings and improved services to citizens, local communities and NGOs.

  Increased inclusion will provide enormous benefit to citizens. With all planning information online, citizens can view current applications, and their plans, their progress at different stages of the planning process, committee dates and decision, submit objections via online forms and become involved with the development of local plans. This reduces the need for citizens to travel into planning offices or libraries to view applications. By encouraging involvement in the creation of local plans, citizens can get involved with the development of the communities at the earliest stage in the planning process.

  In addition, a future programme of work is currently being prepared to support planning authorities publicise and support usage by architects, agents, members of the public, community councils and other stakeholders.

Planning

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to evaluate consultation with voluntary groups and local communities in the community planning partnership process.

John Swinney: Local authorities, as facilitators, have a statutory duty to consult and co-operate with communities, including voluntary organisations, in the Community Planning process. The way in which this is done should reflect the circumstances of their particular communities. The Accounts Commission audits councils’ achievements in relation to their statutory duties, including Community Planning, as part of the audits of Best Value and Community Planning.

  COSLA, Scottish Government, Society of Local Authority Chief Executive (SOLACE), and Scottish Council Voluntary Organisation (SCVO) have committed to working together with the strategic aim of renewing and improving the relationship between the third sector and the public sector, locally, in the context of the new relationship between the Scottish Government and Local Government. The Joint Task Group taking this forward includes third sector representatives.

  The Scottish Government, with the full engagement of third and public sector partners, will shortly commission work to map and understand CPPs’ engagement with third sector organisations. The fieldwork will begin in autumn 2009 and will report in summer 2010.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent by police forces on GP out-of-hours services for those held in custody.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the on duty nurse programme being piloted by Lothian and Borders Police will be evaluated and when this is likely to be published.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the on duty nurse programme being piloted by Lothian and Borders Police will be evaluated and, if so, when this is likely to be published.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what early lessons have emerged from the on duty nurse programme being piloted by Lothian and Borders Police, in particular covering cost, efficiency and impact on mortality rates in custody.

Kenny MacAskill: The pilot is a contractual arrangement between Lothian and Borders Police and the National Health Service, and therefore, the Scottish Government has no plans to evaluate the programme. Regular updates on the pilot are given to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Health and Medical Service Reference Group, on which the Scottish Government is represented.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Naloxone is available for use in police stations with custody cells and whether it will encourage increased availability.

Kenny MacAskill: The provision of medical care in police custody is determined at a local level, and each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in their custody. New developments on the health, care and wellbeing of prisoners held temporarily in police custody facilities are currently being considered by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Health and Medical Service Reference Group, on which the Scottish Government is represented.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to prevent the use of drugs while individuals are in police custody.

Kenny MacAskill: The provision of medical care in police custody is determined at a local level, and each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in their custody.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the change has been in the number of (a) prison places and (b) community service order placements since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond to part (a). His response is as follows:

  The design capacity of all Scottish prisons since May 2007 has increased as follows:

  

 4 May 2007:
 6,543


 4 April 2008:
 6,626


 5 April 2009:
 7,434



  The number of community service orders in each year from 2003-04 to 2007-08 are published in the Scottish Government statistical bulletin Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2007-08 (Table 1.1). This can be accessed through the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/09091001/14.

  Figures are collected from local authorities on a financial year basis and the figures for 2008-09 will be published toward the end of 2009.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the protocol is for visits to prisons by MSPs.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service positively welcomes visits by MSPs and any MSP wishing to visit a prison is encouraged either to make contact with my office or the governor of the prison concerned so that arrangements can be made.

Rail Freight

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that a decision will be made on the proposed A8 Mossend rail freight terminal development.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has considered the development appraisal relating to a proposed new junction on the A8 at Mossend rail freight terminal. A response was submitted to Dougall Baillie Associates (Transport Consultant to Peter D Stirling) on 26 March 2009 which allows them to progress an Access Strategy Report to determine the most appropriate junction form. Further consideration will be given to the issue following receipt of the Access Strategy.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to direct the chair of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond to inquiries from MSPs regarding interests declared by members of the trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust intends to publish a register of its board members’ interests on its website shortly. In the meantime, I understand that details have been supplied to the member.

Special Advisers

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special advisers it has employed in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: Special advisers are appointed in accordance with Article 3 (4) of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 (as amended). The Order in Council gives the First Minister delegated authority to appoint up to 12 Special Advisers. The number in post at any one time can vary throughout the year as some leave and others are appointed. The following table provides details of the number employed and the number who left during each calendar year since 1999.

  Number of Special Advisers Employed Each Year Since 1999

  

 Year
 Employed
 Left


 1999
 9
 1


 2000
 14
 6


 2001
 14
 6


 2002
 12
 3


 2003
 12
 1


 2004
 11
 0


 2005
 13
 2


 2006
 12
 0


 2007
 22
 13


 2008
 11
 1



  During 2009 to date, 11 Special Advisers have been employed. There are currently nine in post.

Taxation

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the weekly impact on single person and family households of the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008, broken down by (a) National Statistics Socio-economic Classification and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation categories.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23604 on 14 May 2009. The analysis was conducted using the Expenditure and Food Survey which does not provide a breakdown by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification or by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation categories.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Taxation

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the weekly impact on single person and family households of the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.

John Swinney: The temporary cut in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5% to 15% announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 24 November is estimated to increase the average Scottish household’s income by approximately £4 a week in 2009-10.

  Table 1 summarises the estimated average impact of the VAT cut on the weekly income of different household types in Scotland during 2009-10. The results presented assume that the cut in VAT is passed on in full to consumers; if this does not occur, the average impact on households will be less.

  The analysis was conducted using the Expenditure and Food Survey which does not provide data at the sub-Scotland level.

  Table 1 – Estimated Average Weekly Change in Net Income by Family Type (2009-10)

  

 Family Type
Average Weekly Change (£)


 Single Non-Pensioner
£1.90


 Married w/o Children
£5.30


 Married with Children
£6.10


 One-Parent Families
£3.00


 Single Pensioners
£1.40


 Married Pensioners
£3.30


 Households comprising "Multiple Taxpayers"
£5.40



  Note: Results have been rounded to the nearest 10p.

Tourism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support in cash and in kind is provided to the leisure marine industry by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) VisitScotland.

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise continues to support the leisure and marine industry in Scotland, specific activity includes:

  Scottish Enterprise (SE) continues to support the development of the Sail Clyde Initiative through the development of a Sail Clyde Action Plan, and a number of facilitated workshops with the Sail Clyde Steering Group (which consists of a number of public and private sector organisations involved in sailing development). The Action Plan builds on the recommendations and priorities from the Sailing in the Clyde estuary report and should be finalised by the end of June.

  Scottish Enterprise has approved funding of £100,000 towards the development of the Largs Slipway project during 2009. This development will enable Scotland to bid for larger scale high profile sailing events and is a priority project under the Sail Clyde Strategy. In support of this development, Scottish Enterprise recently approved £33,000 towards a UK bid to secure the World Radial Sailing Championship event in July 2010 at Largs in Ayrshire.

  Scottish Enterprise is currently supporting research, to be undertaken by VisitScotland, to identify growth opportunities of sailing at a Scottish level. This research will inform SE’s future investment in sailing development.

  VisitScotland supports the leisure marine industry through promotional work, publications, direct mail campaigns, e-newsletters, website advertising, and joint working with bodies such as Sail Scotland, the Clyde Sailing Development Group and the British Marine Federation. They also provided £6,000 to support Sail Scotland’s stand at the London Boat Show in 2009.

Tourism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support in cash and in kind is provided to encourage golf tourism by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) VisitScotland.

Jim Mather: Since 2000 Scottish Enterprise has supported the golf tourism sector through support for industry leadership, research collation and dissemination and collaboration and product development. SE also contributes to the Framework for Scottish Golf - Tourism Group. This work, described as "One Plan for Golf", aims to align the objectives and strategies of all organisations involved in developing the sport of golf. Financial support includes:

  In 2008-09 The National Golf Tourism Monitor was introduced in order to assist partner agencies (VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise), as well as wider industry stakeholders, to capture information about trends of visiting golfer rounds played on golf courses in Scotland. £9,000

  Golf Tourism Business Insight seminar- The event provided businesses involved in the golf market, both as operators and in the wider tourism community, with an opportunity to hear from and meet Bob Morris of Billy Casper Golf, USA. Bob provided a commentary on the opportunity Scotland has to attract the ‘next generation’ golfer and increase its share of the US market in particular. £6,000

  The St Andrews Golf Development Group has been assisted with business development activities (web and database development) and development of an International Marketing Strategy. £12,000

  First In Fife Golf Group - SE have been working with this collaboration of 12 golf courses and 15 accommodation providers in the West of Fife, who are targeting their golf pass at the UK, Ireland and European golfer looking for great golf at good value prices. The group have upgraded their website, collecting much improved customer data, and have recruited new businesses into the fold. £15,000

  Golf Tourism Ayrshire was provided with support for a new destination marketing campaign, which includes a new industry body called Scotland’s West Coast Golf Links. This was formally constituted in February, and launched officially by Jim Mather on 22 April. £12,000.

  Support for the British Senior’s Open - at Royal Troon and evaluation report as to the economic impact of the event. £29,000

  Support for the British Open - at Royal Birkdale. £30,000.

  VisitScotland spends £1 million annually on the promotion of golf tourism. Marketing activity includes publications, direct mailings, sponsorship of major tournaments, golf website, and attending the International Golf travel market. Golf is marketed to specialist golf groups as well as more widely across those consumer segments where golf may be an element of the visitor’s trip.

Transport

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business.

Water Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the proposals in Waterwatch Scotland’s report, Affordability of Scottish Household Water and Sewerage Charges: Historic Trends and Current Position.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the effectiveness of the water charges reduction scheme in providing financial relief to households unable to pay for water and sewerage charges.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement all of the recommendations in Waterwatch Scotland’s report, Affordability of Scottish Household Water and Sewerage Charges: Historic Trends and Current Position .

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government responded to Waterwatch Scotland on publication of its affordability report in September 2008. That response set out that we continue to be committed to introducing a fairer local tax based on ability to pay. Such a change would have implications for the household water charge basis given the present links to the Council Tax system. The response also set out that, in light of this planned wider change, it would be difficult to review particular aspects of the water charging system.

  Meantime, the Government is grateful to Waterwatch for this report which addresses a number of important issues. As is reflected in our draft 2010-14 Principles of Charging Statement - a second draft of which was published in March 2009 - we continue to regard the affordability of household charges as a significant objective. We will ensure that the present bespoke reduction scheme for households in receipt of council tax benefit will continue.

  The Scottish Government has a new level of ambition to tackle poverty in Scotland and is determined to deliver real and lasting change. Last year we published Achieving our Potential – a framework setting out the shared approach of Scottish Government and local government in tackling poverty in Scotland. This framework refers to our specific measures to tackle fuel poverty, including the new energy assistance package, and outlines other key actions to tackle poverty required by the Scottish Government and its partners, particularly the strengthening of income maximisation work in an attempt to alleviate the disadvantage of all types of poverty in Scotland.

  The framework also calls for the UK government to transfer responsibility for personal taxation and responsibility for the entire benefits system as this relates to Scotland.

Water Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, using the definition of water poverty as those spending more than 3% of their income on water and sewerage charges, how many households were in water poverty in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2008-09.

Stewart Stevenson: Data from 1999-2000 does not provide a basis for comparison with that from 2008-09 because charges at the former time were set at the regional level by three separate water authorities.

Waterways

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to implement the recommendations in Sailing in the Clyde Estuary - The Potential for Future Development .

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise (SE) continues to support the development of the Sail Clyde Initiative. They are currently supporting the development of a Sail Clyde Action Plan through a number of facilitated workshops with the Sail Clyde Steering Group (which consists of a number of public and private sector organisations involved in sailing development). The Action Plan builds on the recommendations and priorities from the Sailing in the Clyde Estuary report and should be finalised by the end of June 2009.

  VisitScotland have been meeting with Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and the Sail Clyde Development Group since 2007. In conjunction with SE and the British Marine Federation they have agreed to undertake a piece of qualitative research funded largely by SE, into the market for sailing.

Welfare Reform Bill

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government with regard to the Welfare Reform Bill.

Fiona Hyslop: A comprehensive response to the Welfare Reform Green Paper which preceded the Welfare Reform Bill was submitted to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) by the Scottish Government in November 2008.

  The Welfare Reform Bill - specifically those aspects of the Bill which impact devolved services - was discussed fully with the UK Government at the Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic) in February of this year. In addition, I discussed aspects of the Bill with Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, during a meeting in November 2008.

  Discussions with the UK Government regarding a pilot in Scotland to test the proposals for Right to Control Budgets for disabled people are on-going at official level.